OECD Information and Communication Policy News - September 2007

TheOECD Communications Outlook 2007presents the most recent comparable data on communication sector performance and provides information on policy frameworks in OECD countries. The report also provides detailed time series data of up to 10 years for a number of key indicators. In addition, for the first time, the 2007 edition includes analysis of the communication sector in five large non-OECD countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

OECD-Canada Technology Foresight Forum on the Participative Web: Strategies and Policies for the Future

The Forum will be held on 3 October 2007 in Ottowa, Canada to discuss key opportunities and challenges posed by theParticipative Web. Participants at this conference will include: Amazon, SecondLife, IBM, Microsoft, MySpace, Lulu.com, Facebook, TakingITGlobal.org, Sunlight Foundation, high-level policy officials, representatives of civil society and experts. The discussions around the themes of Creativity, Confidence and Convergence will contribute to the OECD Ministerial Meeting onThe Future of the Internet Economyin Seoul, Korea, 17-18 June 2008.

The Forum will be web cast live and there are many possibilities to participate remotely. For more information on the Forum and to register visit:www.oecd.org/futureinternet/participativeweb. Journalists can register through the OECD at: spencer.wilson at oecd.org.

OECD Ministerial Meeting on "The Future of the Internet Economy",
Seoul, Korea, 17-18 June 2008

Shaping Policies for
Creativity, Confidence and Convergence
in the Digital World

To keep up-to-date with the OECD's ongoing work in preparation of the Ministerial Meeting, to take place in Seoul, Korea on 17-18 June 2008, visit thispage. [Printable information leaflet]

OECD Online Public Consultation on the Ministerial meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy

TheOnline Consultation on the Future of the Internet Economydeadline has been extended to 30 September 2007. The consultation is focused around the following topics: i) Using the Internet to Improve Future Economic Performance and Social Welfare; ii) Benefitting from Convergence; iii) Fuelling Creativity iv) Building Confidence.

The questionnaire is availableonline. Participants are invited to contribute sharing their views on key policy principles associated to the themes outlined above, and providing additional links to background information and material. Responses will be posted on the OECDFuture of the Internet Economywebsite shortly after the deadline.

OECD Recommendation on Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress

On 12 July 2007, OECD Member countries adopted a Recommendation on Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress to provide governments with a framework to help consumers resolve disputes and settle claims with business. The framework covers disputes in both domestic and cross-border transactions. It was developed to deal with issues arising from the rapid growth in electronic commerce, but it will also benefit consumers making traditional types of purchases. [More]

OECD Recommendation on Electronic Authentication and Guidance for Electronic authentication

On 12 June 2007, the OECD Council adopted aRecommendationencouraging efforts by Member countries to establish compatible, technology-neutral approaches for effective domestic and cross-border electronic authentication of persons and entities. This Recommendation reaffirms the important role of electronic authentication in fostering trust online and the continued development of the digital economy. [More]

Recent Reports

Roundtable on Economics for Consumer Policy, July 2007. In October 2005, the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy (CCP) hosted its first one-day Roundtable to hear from academics and public officials from OECD member countries about developments in economic research, particularly behavioural economics, with a view to exploring possible implications for public policy.

'Social and Economic Factors Shaping the Future of the Internet', July 2007. This document contains a summary of the proceedings of an NSF / OECD workshop entitled "Social and Economic Factors Shaping the Future of the Internet", held at the United States National Science Foundation in Washington D.C., on 31 January 2007.

Report on OECD Member Countries' Approaches to Consumer Contracts, July 2007. Consumers make contracts in all walks of daily life. With the increasing convergence of financial arrangements and consumer activities in modern life, consumers are prone to take on longer-term commitments. It is therefore necessary to review the regulations and legal rules pertaining to consumer protection in consumer contracts, in view of the asymmetry of information and bargaining power between business and consumers.

Participative Web and User-Created Content: Web 2.0, Wikis and Social Networking, OECD 2007 (forthcoming in October 2007. More information available at:www.oecd.org/sti/digitalcontent)

The goal of the OECD's work onInformation and Communication Policyis to help governments maximise the benefits of the "information society". Emerging trends in ICT technologies, applications and uses constantly challenge policy development and co-ordination. Through benchmarking and analysis, the OECD is able to help countries with analysis, recommendations and best practices. More information aboutOECD work on the information society.